Tuesday, December 23, 2014

Over the weekend I won the championship in both my big money keeper leagues (Ebola in RTTO and Ha Ha Clinton's Dick in Dead Fish). It was a feat I had often dreamed about, but always seemed to slip through my fingers in heartbreaking fashion. But not this time! This year my boys fought tooth and nail til the end and everything broke my way.

I traded Odell Beckham and lived to tell about it. I started Toby Gerhart in a championship matchup and lived to tell about it. And I used a keeper slot on Montee Ball and lived to tell about it.

Hopefully some of you were able to use my advice to reach the promised land yourself. Fantasy titles are won and lost on the waiver wire and each week I dished out a handful candidates for your consideration.

I had a blast following, studying, watching and winning this season, but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't looking forward to watching week 17 and beyond nice and relaxed with nothing at stake.

Friday, December 19, 2014

Miggs and I dish some holiday cheer in the latest edition of The 2 Man Weave Podcast. The two of us discuss our holiday plans, the Jets ineptitude and the Rajon Rondo trade. We also debate Winston vs. Mariota and bring you up to speed on our surprisingly successful fantasy football season.

Ended up rolling the dice and going with Toby. I'll sign off on 12.5 every day of the week. Thank you based rhino. @danye33 / @NickMiggs

Tuesday, December 16, 2014

Randle
skyrockets to the top of the week 16 waiver wire pecking order thanks to hand
injury to fantasy MVP candidate DeMarco Murray. Murray is the league’s leading
rusher by more than 400 yards, and if he misses Sunday’s tilt with the Colts
Randle immediately becomes an RB1. That offense line is too good to fail,
regardless of who is lining up in the backfield (though I’d love to see Trent
Richardson try). Keep an eye on DeMarco’s availability at the week progresses.

This play is strictly
for the desperate for a variety of reasons. First, it’s a Jacksonville running
back. But more importantly, it’s a dreaded Thursday night contest (vs. the
lowly Titans). I have no problem swinging for the fences, but I literally could
not think of anything worse than knowing you pissed away a starting slot during
championship week by gambling on a Jags offensive player. If this game was on
Sunday at 4:05 pm I could talk myself into it. But on a Thursday? Fat chance. I
can’t deal with that type of regret on a work day.

Connor Barth, K,
Broncos- Week 15 Stats: 5 FGs, 1 XP

Barth Vader sonned
many opposing fantasy teams in week 15, kicking five field goals in the Broncos
22-10 week 15 win over Chargers. Manning’s numbers have been down in recent
weeks, but that actually plays to Barth’s strengths. I also like the fact that
Denver plays on Monday night this week. He’s the type of the player you can
talk yourself into having a chance at winning even if you’re down 15 points
after Sunday.

Carlos Hyde, RB,
49ers- Week 15 Stats: 6 car, 55 rush yds

Both Hyde (ankle) and
Gore (concussion) are questionable for week 16. There’s no guarantee that
either of them play, but if you’re in desperate need of an RB2 and Hyde gets
the nod, run with it!

Dan’s week 16 Defensive rankings-

You know what they say, defense wins
championships. So if any of these options are still floating around on the
wire, now is the time to pounce.

1. Bills (@Raiders)- You saw what they did
to Aaron Rodgers, just wait until you see what they do to David Carr.

Tuesday, December 9, 2014

When news broke that Andre Ellington was taking a trip to
the IR list, fantasy owners flocked to the wires to scoop up Stepfan Taylor, Ellington's presumed heir. But it was Kerwynn Williams who ended up seeing the lion's share of the carries in the Cardinals backfield. Williams cracked the century mark on 19 carries, helped to ensure Arizona became the first team in the league to reach double digit wins. He has got a tough task ahead of head, and a short week of rest, but if you're happy with a starting someone who is guaranteed 12 touches, Williams is your guy.

Johnson earned the start Sunday over struggling second year
wide out Cordarrelle Patterson, and
shined in his absence. The 6’2” speedster out of Grand Valley State caught four
balls for 103 yards and a touchdown in the Vikings overtime victory over the
Jets Sunday. He’s now put up fantasy startable numbers in three of his last
four games and appears to be Teddy Bridgewater’s most trusted target. I don’t
like the week 15 matchup against the Lions stout defense, but if you are
desperate, there are certainly worse options out there.

Marquess Wilson, WR, Bears- Week 14 Stats: 2 rec, 19 rec yds

The door
for potential is definitely open for Marquess Wilson. The second year receiver
out of Washington State is expected to carry much of the burden left in the
wake of Brandon Marshall’s season ending rib and lung injury. He’ll get the
start alongside Alshon Jeffery Monday night versus New Orleans. And though it
would be foolish to bank on the Marshall’s level of production, Wilson is still
an intriguing flex/WR3 play for your semifinal matchup.

Stewart
ran all over a pathetic Saints defense in the Superdome last weekend, carrying
the rock 20 times for a season high 155 yards a score in the Panthers 41-10
win. The win snapped a six game losing streak and shows flashes of what could
have been, if not for a constant committee backfield split between Stewart and the
now-injured DeAngelo Williams (finger). If Williams sits out this week’s
contest again the lowly Buccaneers, have fun riding Stewart all the way to your
league’s championship game.

Knile Davis,
RB, Chiefs- Week 14 Stats: 1 car, 4 rush yds

This is
the ultimate lottery ticket play, as first string back and fantasy savior Jamaal
Charles deals with a swollen knee and ankle issues. Charles is listed as
questionable as of Tuesday, but should he miss this week’s game against the
Raiders Davis will immediately become an unquestioned top 10 fantasy play in
week 15. At this point in the season it’s better to look for long shots that can
swing a game for you, rather than dead weight depth that you’re never going to
play at the end of your bench.

Tuesday, December 2, 2014

Kenny is still the Saints receiver I’d trust the most to start as we enter the fantasy football playoffs. He leads the team in yards on the year (691) and has seen a nice uptick in targets since teammate Brandin Cooks went down with a season ending thumb injury in week 11. On Sunday the second year speedster torched veteran Ike Taylor for 162 yards and a score in the Saints 35-32 win over the Steelers. He’s a locked and loaded flex play the rest of the season with WR3 upside. For comparison, I’d feel more comfortable starting him than hit-or-miss guys like Percy Harvin, Mohamed Sanu, Michael Floyd and Michael Crabtree.

Ryan Six-Patrick returned from the dead Sunday, filling in
for the injured quarterback who stole his job from three weeks ago. The Harvard
grad had a near perfect game, throwing a franchise record 6 touchdowns as well
as 358 yards in the Texans division win over the Titans. I’d be willing to bet
my salary he doesn’t duplicate these numbers at any point over the final four
games, but with another plus matchup versus the Jags on Sunday he’s an enticing
daily fantasy option.

Stedman Bailey, WR, Rams- Week 13 Stats- 5 rec, 100 rec yds

This is admittedly a DEEP longshot, but Bailey had Steadily produced these past two weeks
so it’s worth mentioning that he’s turned 15 targets into 12 catches for 189
yards and a score. You never want to let your fantasy fate rest of the arm of a
QB like Austin Davis, but targets don’t lie. One of either Bailey or Kenny
Britt are going to have startable fantasy days each week, it just depends how
much of a gamble you are willing to take.

Moncrief remains a boom or bust fantasy option, but when he goes off, like he did on Sunday for 134 yards and two scores, take cover. He's clearly the superior talent to an at this point in his career washed up Hakeem Nicks. The only question that remains is whether or not Chuck Pagano and company are ready to go all in on the rookie out of Ole Miss. At this point he's worth owning, but I think I'd need to see an injury to Reggie Wayne or Nicks before starting him with any semblance of confidence.

Chris Johnson, RB, Jets- Week 13 Stats: 17 car, 105 rush yds

Granted the Jets were coddling quarterback Geno Smith to the
fullest, but CJ2.0YPC looked like his old, explosive self in his season high 17
carry, 105 rushing yard performance under the lights at MetLife on Monday. This
could be a sign of things to come, as the New York appears content with
becoming fully one dimensional if it means minimizing the chances Geno Smith
ends up on Sportscenter’s “Not Top 10.” He should see at least 15 touches per
game the rest of the way, though the fact that he plays for such an anemic
offense would worry to me to no end if I had to actually plug him in my
starting lineup.